410 fortune - 5.0L EFI 4R70W drivertrain conversion

[410Fortune]

I just ordered my AA Adapter $520 shipped from James Duff, they had it cheapest I could find.
I got AA part #: 50-8405 This is the AOD to BW 1350 Adapter and tailshaft, 5" in total length.

Should be here next week!

SWEET....getting closer.
Looks like I will be running a ron Davis custom radiator, $250, 23x16x3 dimensions, two core aluminum with Ford 5.0L inlet and outlet, no drain, no fill I will use a Summit style upper radiator hose filler neck and cap.

ONly one more major part to get, the Art Car Shifter and this project is ready for the exhaust shop. 2 weeks? MUAHAHHAHAHA

Cross your fingers, I give it my personal guarantee that she will fire on the first attempt, like I said, cross your fingers

 

[410Fortune]

Weekend Progress

Installed the coolant/washer resevoir. I had to fabricate some simple metal brackets to hang it in a new location.

Ran all vent tubes (front diff, T case) up firewall and to filter. I need to build a simple pipe manifold here to accomodate the trans as well.

I built a new custom fuel line for the high pressure side, I was not happy with the length or fit of my previous 4.0L line and filter location. Installed new fuel filter.
The Ford stock fuel lines are made of nylon, and the fittings are a press fit with tripple flares. Anybody who has worked with these knows they are a PITA Boiling the line in water helps, but I found a new process that allowed me to easily slip the line over all 3 flares. I will get some pictures later today..

I took extensive measuring for a radiator and built a cardbord mock up piece of the dimensions I am looking at. With slight cutting to the lower rad support and enlarging the opening behind the grill (1" on both sides) I can fit a 26x16x3 Ron Davis small block ford unit.
This would be much larger tank then a simple conversion radiator (read BEcool and AA), about 6" wider and 1" taller. It will also give the upper and lower hoses plenty of room to bend headed for the engine. Anything structural from the rad support will be replaced with plating and/or tube later (friends shop) My stock 88 BII shroud which has been to hell and back looks like it will work perfect still and may remain one of the only parts on the truck still original


Tonight I plan to cut out my old exhaust (cant get it over the axle).

Basically the trans adapter gets here this week, I plan to install the trans this weekend as long as I can get the tailshaft installed. the stock pan will get a drain plug and a port for my temp sensor. Trans will get new gaskets, filter, rear seal, also whatever else is required to get the tailshaft in there (most likely pay to have done at a friends shop) I will worry about throttle body mods, shift kit, etc down the road.

I also took care of hanging alot of the wiring, I am routing everything better then Ford did and trying to simplify the number of wire runs etc for a cleaner look. I dont want all the wires and tubes and whatnot hanging from the fender skirs like stock. My 4.0L alternator will not bolt up to this 5.0L and the 5.0L wiring is slightly different ( 2 less wires) So I will rebuild the alternator harness once again, like 4th time hahaha.

Robert contacted me, the header is rebuilt the way he invisioned it, and sent to the coater today, I removed the steering shaft completely to make installation easier, hopefully with less scratches this time

Everything that is left to do sans the radiator and floor shifter is all bolt up stuff. I am waiting till the tranny is in to do much more so I can stille asily access the bolts. After the tranny is in its a mere matter of small parts, fluids, a little wiring, hoses, and should be ready to fire.

Now for you 5.0L guys:
I want to see factory sending units and aftermarket gages hooked up to your engines for the coolant temp and oil pressure. I would like to have both the factory coolant temp gage and my autometer hooked up. Same true with my oil light and autometer gage. Just want to see what fittings are available and who likes what.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Jamie - this is how I did my Autometer oil-pressure setup:

This picture is taken looking into the driver's side fenderwell. The A/C compressor is at the top of the picture, the forward upper control arm mount is at the bottom of the picture.

There is a small section of brass tube coming out of the block, going to a brass "T." The Autometer sender faces forward, the stock switch faces outward.

 

[410Fortune]

wow that autometer unit is huge! Is it an electric gage then?
Thanks....both work okay?

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

It's the electric 0-100psi Autometer sender. It's actually smaller than the old Neihoff units on the 80s Ford trucks (if you can believe that!).

It's been in for over a year now, and works great. No problems with that large assembly vibrating or leaking.

 

[410Fortune]

OKay update 03/16/05

I have my Advance Adapters AOD to BW1354 kit in hand. I have the 3 Ford parts needed to install the tailshaft into the 4r70w. I will be installing the tailshaft or having it installed in the next few days or so. taking a little longer then expected, but what doesn't?

I received word from Robert at Torque Monster this AM. The header is rebuilt and at the coaters, I will have it back likely next week.
Pictures of the rebuild:

Before:

After:

You can see Robert modified the header so the tube in question does not raise up nearly as high as before, large difference, It appears to be as tucked up against the block as is was before.

I will be ordering my radiator on Friday and this weekend I will continue to make more progress, some minor wiring, final assembly of the upper intake, route the air intake and MAS, possibly install an Explorer style in tank sending unit and under dash diagnostics port.

Shes ready for the transmission and radiator, once those are in shes 90% ready to fire.

 

[GONRACIN]

sweet, I'm subscribing to this right now....your giving me alot of evil ideas....

can't wait to see it fired up are moving under it's own power...

 

[Captain AirTime]

OKay update 03/16/05

possibly install an Explorer style in tank sending unit and under dash diagnostics port.

Just in case it slipped your attention:
89-90 B2 pump (hi-pres)/sender is a drop in, either change your guage tho, or swap on your existing sender , or whatever, I'm sure you can figure it out

Erik

 

[410Fortune]

Hey Erik thanks for the tips! I realize the later model high pressur pump will drop in my tank, but thats not my issue. The OBD-II wiring has 4 additional wires for the PCM that go tot he fuel sending unit, my 88 obvisouly does not have these wires. So my plan is to use a later model in tank sending unit with the wires, they are fuel pump voltage (easy enough) fuel tank pressure, and fuel level. I am hoping I can just install an Explorer in tank sending unit, but it may not work. I think these wires may also be for a non return style fuel system, which I dont have. I dont know yet, and this is not something that is imperative to make it run, but I have some time while I wait on parts and since I just destroyed my 96 5.0L ex I figure I can take a look at it and see.

My dual pump setup should provide plenty of pressure for the V8, if not I will look into using a in tank pump for a Lightning, I hear they will drop right in as well.
If I dont need these wires and cannot easily accomodate them then I will have the PCM flashed to eliminate them.

Thanks again! More progress coming this weekend and more pics, shes getting close and now that I am back down to 1 truck the pressure is on.......

 

[Captain AirTime]

I *think* 96 or 96-97 has a return fuel system, but not positive on that. Maybe I'm thinking about the early SOHC 4.0L there... Anyway, I can't see much use for the tank pressure and fuel pressure monitor on a naturally aspirated engine. Tank pressure is pretty much irrelevant on a hi-pres system, I would think, and fuel pressure will be obvious. either its good and runs well, or its not and is rich or lean. Pretty easy to feel either condition in power output alone if it exceeds the computers ability to compensate. The OBD-II is love it/hate it, I guess. On the one hand, all the integration is really great when it works, on the other, it difficult to isolate issues and deal with them when you are nowhere in particular. Nice harness work, BTW. BT,DT, and its a LOT more labor than it looks like, thats for sure! You do it nice so it's easy to troubleshoot, but then if you do it nice ENOUGH you'll never have to LOL!

 

[410Fortune]

This 97 (GTP40 heads) block and my 96 5.0L (non GTP40) both have fuel return lines.
I believe the extra fuel monitor wires may just be for the message center, or they are in the PCM harness because the later models use a non return style system. Whatever the case may be all I know is I have every single wire from my 5.0l and PCM harness hooked up, except for the air suspension monitor and the low fuel light So yeah the wiring is done right! but again, I'll shut it until it runs on the first bump of the key
I will know more this weekend after I get a chance to wire up my OD button and also the diagnostics port....

 

[Nick26]

I thought all explorer 5.0 heads were GT40P heads? at least thats what they seem to think over on stangnet from what I can tell.

Is there a way you'll be able to hook up the gas guage light? Thats something that never really occured to me before when thinking about an engine swap with a new computer... Ofcourse a lot of people must swap in 5.0's from donor mustangs and mustangs don't even have a low fuel light, at least mine doesn't...

 

[james t]

I thought all explorer 5.0 heads were GT40P heads? at least thats what they seem to think over on stangnet from what I can tell.

No, 96-97.5 were GT-40's, 97.5-01 were GT-40p's. Its easy to tell the difference while they are on the motor because GT-40's will have a big "GT" embossed on the side while GT-40p's will have a big "GTP".

 

[410Fortune]

Heck yeah I can add a low fuel light to my 88 easily with this, in the 88 they have a little thing inbetween the gages (instrument cluster) that has the CEL, ABS, 4x4,lights and then about 4 blank locations, ready to accept a bulb and you can even make a Low Fuel template forthe illumination.
just the wire from the PCM to the light is all thats needed.
the pass head on my 97 block says "GTP40"

 

[FROADER]

Happy Birthday maing...

 

[410Fortune]

The transmission is with my friend Lynn, Performance Transmissions here in Denver.
He is installing the AA tailshaft and adapter. The vent tube on top of the Trans case will be replaced with a 90 degree elbow to help clear the body.

A drain plug and temp port will be installed in the factory pan.
This unit has 58K miles on it so if any soft parts are worn they will be replaced, along with seals and gaskets.

I expect to have the trans back and ready for installation next weekend.

I will order the Radiator on Monday, before it arrives I will modify the radiator support for it to fit.

this weekend the remaining small wiring issues, canister purge, and the entire upper and lower intakes are ready for final assembly.

The modified header will arrive this week, Robert updated me to tell me it is back from the coater and on its way shortly.


Anyone else getting excited? MUHAHAHA
I cannot wait to drive this thing with the very smooth shifting AOD-EW and the 5.0L with its new power to weight ratio.

 

[Kirby N.]

Sweet. All I can say is sweet. When are we going wheeling?

 

[Kirby N.]

Jaime,
After looking at more pictures I just decided you and Brett are mad scientists. I was impressed to see the stuff Brett had apart in his garage, but that wiring harness is sick. You think this will be the final setup, or will you go do another conversion like a diesel or something in the future!?!

 

[svande8952]

subscribing

 

[410Fortune]

hahahaha its never the final setup!
I will likely build another powerhouse 5.0L way down the road, but the next step is tube work, I plan to do it all myself and use alot of fiberglass.
I want to do a 4 link rear axle, full cage front bumper to rear, and probably another TTB setup with coilovers and extended beams. After this next stage I just want to get some roll protection, rocker protection, rear detroit and wheel it


I was planning to be in Moab this weekend with a Jeep friend of mine, obviously I am a little behind schedule, about a month and $1000 over budget but thats fine with me and I expected it.....

Oh and FYI Brett is a mad scientist Hes working on several projects at the moment I believe including trying to find me another straight bodied late model Ranger based chasis for el cheapo so I can resurect the drivetrain in my rolled 96....If I can find a 97 Ranger extended cab with the TTB and a blown 4.0L and/or trans for under $2500 its on.......